New Bus for London Comes to Hammersmith in October

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Route 9 third to be converted from October 26

 

The New Bus for London is coming to Hammersmith before the end of the year.

Mayor Boris Johnson has confirmed that Route 9 is the next to be served by the energy efficient buses following the conversion of route 24 on June 22 and the forthcoming conversion of the route 11 on 22 September.

Route 9 is operated by London United and runs between Hammersmith and Aldwych, via Olympia, Kensington, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park Corner, Green Park, Piccadilly, Pall Mall and Trafalgar Square. 

New buses will appear on this route from Saturday October 26. During peak hours 22 of the new buses will be in passenger service to carry the 17,000 people who travel on the route each day. 

Buses will operate with the rear door open and a conductor on the rear platform for the majority of the day.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, says: "The conversion of two more bus routes continues to build the momentum of this project. 

" Even as these buses become an increasingly familiar sight on the streets of the Capital they continue to awe Londoners and visitors with their sinuous beauty and graceful motion."

Leon Daniels, Transport for London's Managing Director of Surface Transport, says: "'London's increasingly green bus fleet continues to grow apace.  The 600 New Bus for London vehicles entering passenger service over the next few years will bolster what is already the largest fleet of hybrid buses in Europe. 

" By 2016 twenty per cent of buses in the capital will be hybrid and these will be concentrated in central London - delivering the maximum air quality benefit where it is needed most."

However, the bus has suffered some teething problems, being dubbed the "cauldron on wheels" and "moving sauna" during last month's heatwave. Passengers were forced to endure sweltering conditions with the air-conditioning breaking down. Windows on the new bus do not open as it was decided this would ruin the efficiency of the on-board cooling system and the result was temperatures soaring above 30 degrees.

Mike Weston, operations director for London Buses, said at the time: “We are aware of some technical issues with the ventilation and air chill system on some of the New Bus for London vehicles on Route 24. Our suppliers are working to fix the issue as soon as possible." 

The fourth route to be converted to the new buses will be Route 390, which is a 24-hour bus route, is operated by Metroline and runs between Notting Hill Gate and Archway, via Queensway, Lancaster Gate, Marble Arch, Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road, Euston, King's Cross and Tufnell Park. New buses will appear on this route by the end of the year.

 

August 7, 2013